"And Mr. Morgan, in his history of Barbary; "makes the same observation with regard to the "Africans; that they were not reduced from "Paganism by mere force of arms, but because "they liked the measures taken by the Saracens to make them relinquish their idolatry, better "than any arguments the Christians could invent and there can be no wonder at this, e when we consider, that the Christians were "guilty of idolatry themselves. I will not here 66 question, says Mr. Mede, whether the Christ"ian or Mahometan be the greater idolator ; "though the doubt might soon be resolved: 66 seeing it is well known that the Mahometans "worship no images §." "2d, Another reason, why Christianity hath "been lost in several parts of the world, where it ❝ was once received; and not received in others " where it was preached, is the wickedness of "the Christians, and their continual animosities ❝ and persecutions. And so in Africa we are "told, by good authority, that the Christians ❝owed their ruin to themselves: and what made "the African Moors so passive, and ready to "fall Morgan's History of Barbary, page 146, 159, 166 "fall in with the Mahometans, was the hope of "ridding themselves of their greatest eye-sore; "the imperious, impiously vicious, insatiably "avaricious, and, consequently, insufferably "tyrannical Christians *. And even, with "regard to persecution, for conscience sake,' ❝the same scene of abomination, which began in "Asia, was acted over again in Africa, with "the same success. The authority of persecut❝ing to blood, was procured from the Emperor "Honorius; by four Bishops sent from Car"thage to that purpose, A. C. 410. And his "Edicts, comprehended all Dissenters, who "departed ever so little, vel levi argumento, ❝from the established faith t. Thus the Christ ians murthered one another, for difference "of opinion; and were severely punished for "all their abominations, by the just judgment "of God. "Eusebius considers the persecution under «Dioclesian in that light. Socrates, speaking "of the first' persecution of the Novatians at "Rome by Pope Innocent, observes, that at the same instant the Goths invaded Italy, ❝ and Morgan, as above. Sir Isaac Newton on the Prophecies, page 298. "and became the lords of all. And, about "seventeen years after the Bishops of Carthage "had procured the persecuting edicts from "Honorius, the country was invaded by the "Vandals, under Genseric; where the Christians "had more than seven hundred Bishopricks; " and above five millions of men were des"troyed: so that Procopius observes, it was next to a miracle to see a man. And afterwards, "when the Saracens became masters of Africa, "they asserted the same power over the con sciences of Christians, which the Christians, "with no more right or justice, had exercised "before over one another; and those who would "not immediately become Mahometans, were "either killed or banished. And indeed, with "what appearance of reason could it be ex"pected; that the just judgments of God "should fall upon the Heathens, for persecuting "the Christians; and yet that the Christians "should escape them, when they murthered "one another? When any thing happened "unfortunately at Rome, in the days of Nero, "&c. the immediate cry was, to burn the "Christians: and did not the Christians act 66 upon 66 upon the very same principle, when Nestorius "declared to the Emperor Theodosius; clear "me the Earth of Heretics; and I will in "return give you the Kingdom of Heaven: assist me to destroy the Heretics; and I "will assist you to destroy the Persians? And "what was the consequence of this diabolical "practice afterwards, in the days of Justinian; but the desolation of whole Provinces." And a late writer observes, "Nothing has "given the world more offence, and cause of 1 stumbling, than the jars, contradictions, "wrangling, and divisions, among those who "profess to be the disciples of Christ, except "it be their scandalous lives and conversations: "these two things, taken together, have prevented the Heathen, in all ages, from becom"ing members of the Christian church. And what has abundantly made the matter worse, instead of mending it, has been the intolerant spirit which has prevailed among all sects, "filling them with wrath and hatred against "those who differ from them: and which has "frequently caused them, not only to hate, but * Winchester's Lectures on the Prophecies, Sect. XII. Vol IE page 97. "to persecute and to kill each other. Animosities "between ministers.--divisions in churches--"hatred of one sect against another, rising to "persecution, even to death---and the wicked "lives of most professors of religion in all "countries:---all these things conjoined, have given such a fatal blow to Christianity int "the world, that it never can recover 'till"Jesus comes." From the specimens here produced of, the persecutions, divisions, animosities, and the intolerant spirit of Christians, it is clear from all history, that Christianity cannot be the peaceable kingdom of the Messiah, as foretold by the prophet. But, need we the authority, of history in proof of this? Have we not the evidence of our own senses? Can any honest impartial person lay his hand on his heart, and declare that, the known world at present enjoys such universal peace; Surely not! On the contrary, do we not find, that war, with all its concomitant horrors, rages at this instant *, in the most dreadful manner between several powerful states, and which, if not soon put an end to, by the interposition of Providence, will probably involve *The year 1798. A |